School struggling to collect $16,000 in lunch money from students, staff

Thursday

Mar 27, 2008 at 2:00 AM

By Margaret Carroll-Bergman I&M Staff Writer

A proposal to read a list of names at this year’s Annual Town Meeting of students and school staff who are delinquent in paying for their school lunches was nixed by Town Moderator Sarah F. Alger.

Alger made the decision after receiving a copy of an internal memo dated March 18, which was written by the Nantucket Public Schools’ food service director Linda Peterson, and a copy of an undated letter which was drafted by the school’s attorney.

In her memo to staff, Peterson wrote, “As March 26th is coming very close, I wanted to give you a courtesy reminder. Dr. Pellicone and town counsel are planning on reading the names of anyone whose account is in arrears (from ground zero) as of March 26th on the floor of Town Meeting (in front of all who attend). I am providing this information so that you are completely aware of the impact this could have.”

Alger said within seconds of receiving a copy of the memo, she received an email from Pellicone, citing that there had been some confusion.

“Nobody ever asked me if it could happen, but someone sent me a memo that indicated this was the plan,” said Alger. “It would be inappropriate for a lot of different reasons.”

Peterson has been trying to collect the $16,000 in bad debts for school lunches, since 2004 when she took over as food service director. She has had some success in getting parents to pay. The original amount outstanding was $20,000. Faculty and staff account for $1,000 of the total.

Pellicone says there were never any plans to read the names of those who had past due lunch bills at Town Meeting.

“Linda wrote the memo to the staff. It was never our intention to have the names read at Town Meeting,” said Pellicone.

Somehow a copy of the memo and the letter was sent to the Town Moderator. “It was an internal communication. We were never asking Sarah (Alger) for permission to read the names,” said Pellicone.

Petersen would not comment.

While Pellicone said he did not authorize Peterson’s memo, Pellicone did meet with the school’s attorney, Michael Long, to discuss what the district’s options were in collecting money from parents who don’t pay.

“Since the schools are part of the town, we could give the list of names to the town, which has its own collection mechanism,” said Pellicone. “There are ways the town collects outstanding water fees and parking fees and taxes.”

“The town has no authority to read the list of names at Town Meeting,” Pellicone said. Yet, the town does keep a list of people who owe taxes and fees and has the authority to deny a permit or a license to a person who has not paid his taxes.

“...your name and address will be provided to the Town of Nantucket Treasurer, who will add it to the “Delinquents” list issued to all town departments who provide applications, licenses, permits, or other services, requesting they not provide or renew and licenses or permits to you until we notify them your debt to the public schools has been paid,” the letter stated. “Our goal is to be fair and equitable to all who participate in the public school food service program- to do this we need your help and prompt payment.” Although Peterson and Pellicone’s names were on the letter, the letter was written by the school’s attorney.

Peterson has sent three or four reminder letters to staff and parents of children who are ignoring their lunch bills, but received little action.

“We have not decided if the names will go to the town,” said Carlos Colley, assistant superintendent of schools.

Colley has been working with Peterson to collect the bad debts as well as provide a prepared lunch for students who cannot pay because they have run up a bill.

“While some students choose separate menu items that can add up to $6 to $8 per meal, meal packages are available that are more reasonable. The hot lunch option is $2.50. (at the elementary school and $3.50 to $4.50 at the middle and high schools). The limited choice, prepared lunch is $1.75,” said Colley. “So, a student can run up a bill to the cap at $25 in a few days and continue to increase the bill daily by continuing to take the limited choice lunch until the bill is paid.”

A meal package could be a meatball sub, chicken pot pie, hamburger, or pizza and a salad, desert and drink, while a prepared meal consists of a sandwich, piece of fruit, and drink. Some items, for example, salad or a sandwich can be purchased separately. “If a student is hungry, I am not going to turn them away because the parents forgot to send money with them. They will be fed,” added Colley.

About 50 students meet the federal guidelines for free lunch and about 25 for reduced lunch.

“If a parent qualifies for free and reduced lunch, they must make an application. We have 10 days to review the application. We also have to verify the family’s income. Sometimes waiting for the family to give us a complete application takes time, meanwhile, the student is eating lunch every day,” said Colley.

“There is no such thing as a free lunch,” said Colley. “Someone always pays for it. The point is, who is responsible to pay for it?”

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